A new federal report points to the sustained risk of landslides due to Helene

Hurricane Helene pushed the boundaries of what residents and scientists were prepared for in North Carolina. A new federal report is raising concerns over future landslide risks in the High Country and Watauga County. 

Big landslide events are experienced in Appalachia roughly every 25 years. In 2004, Hurricanes Francis and Ivan triggered a few hundred landslides. Following Helene, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) mapped more than 2,000. Already saturated soil, followed by heavy rainfall, caused slopes to destabilize. Often, several smaller landslide tributaries clustered to form larger, more destructive slides.

USGS geologist Kelli Baxstrom says while there’s no immediate risk of further landsliding in the area, residents, contractors and government crews need to remain vigilant.

"Landslides don't always just fail once, and that's the end of it," she says. "They can often reactivate and move again for months or even years after the slope originally fails. So we say people should be on the lookout for new cracks at the top of the scar, which is where a landslide originally failed from, or new springs of water in the scar, or increased dirt, sand or rock tumbling down the slope."

As for protective actions you can take in the midst of a landslide, Baxstrom says if you’re home, move up to the second-floor downhill side if possible. If you’re outside, always run perpendicular to the slope.

Landslide Myths

Landslides occur suddenly and without warning.

In reality, they give warning signs, often in the form of cracks in the earth or changes in water levels, or if your home is being affected, you might see cracks in the walls or foundation.

Landslides are only triggered by natural events.

While natural events are often a cause, human activity like deforestation or devegetation of a slope, improper drainage or cutting into a slope can all increase landslide risk.

You can't survive a landslide.

You definitely can. There are protective actions you can take. If you're home, you can climb on a table, or if you have a second floor to your building, move up there and move to the downhill side if possible. And if you're outside, don't run downhill. Run perpendicular. To the slope.

Landslides are only a problem in steep mountainous areas.

While high slopes are certainly more susceptible, a shallow slope can still fail under the right conditions, and landslides can travel great distances, so you can still get impacted downstream.